niciruggiero
QR 7 Saxifraga (Stonebraker)
Nicholas Culpeper the 17th Century astrologer and physician suggested that: "There are not many better medicines to break the stone than this". This herb grows in crevices in rocks and often splits them, so was believed to be useful in the treatment of breaking up kidney stones.
Martha Bradley in her housekeeper's companion: The British Housewife, 1756, has this recipe "To make a Water for the Stone: Take a pint of the strongest white Wine, set it on the Fire. Put to it two Ounces of old Alicant soap, and let it continue to dissolve; then take it off the Fire, sweeten it with syrup of Marsh Mallows, and give it to drink. This is an excellent and approved Remedy" !
For more historic 'recipes for remedy' and further information, please follow the links below.
IMPORTANT - Warning: Please do not pick, take or eat any plant, fruit or berry from the Garden even if you think that you know what it is. Reference to any medicinal or curative properties of plants or to the recipes noted are historic and for the interest of visitors and should not be used or relied on as this may cause harm. Neither the Artist nor the Chelsea Physic Garden will be held liable if people disregard this advice.
Culpepper's English physician; and complete herbal
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